Montreal’s Simone Plourde eager to build confidence in her Olympic pursuit

Montreal’s Simone Plourde could be a name to watch this summer in Paris.

The 23-year-old concluded her 2024 indoor season with four personal bests in the 800m, 1,500m, mile and 3,000m. She also represented Team Canada for the second time in eight months in the women’s 1,500m, competing at the 2024 World Indoor Championships in Glasgow (earlier this month), where she left wanting more.

Plourde finished fifth in her 1,500m heat, missing out on one of three automatic qualifying spots to the final. “I knew the fitness was there,” said Plourde post-race. “It’s just the confidence that needs to come along. The big stage can be intimidating.”

Reflecting on her experience in Glasgow, Plourde recognized the importance of learning from the experience. She currently trains with Nike’s Union Athletics Club, one of the top distance running groups in North America, under the guidance of Pete Julian and Irish Olympic medallist Sonia O’Sullivan.

“Training with Union has been great, and I feel really supported,” says Plourde. “It helps when you have good coaches and teammates to keep pushing me forward.”

“I really tried to go for it, but when it came for switching gears—I just didn’t have it in me.”

Simone Plourde 🇨🇦 on her fifth-place finish in the W 1,500m heats. pic.twitter.com/AcSTzhTeHq

— Canadian Running (@CanadianRunning) March 1, 2024

Transitioning from college to the professional circuit last summer, Plourde forwent her final two years of eligibility in the NCAA to sign with Nike. Despite the challenging adjustment, she feels she’s in an excellent position to get to Paris. “I couldn’t ask for more,” says Plourde. “We are constantly trying new things and doing workouts I’ve never done before in training.”

As the outdoor season approaches, Plourde currently holds an Olympic qualification spot in the Road To Paris rankings based on World Athletics points. However, that could change. For her to punch a ticket to France, she will be aiming for the 1,500m automatic qualifying mark of 4:02.50 in the coming months.